Suction cleaning attachment for dental prophylaxis angles



'SUQTIONYCLEANINGHATTACHMENT FOR DENTAL PROPHYLAXIS- ANGLES,

Filed Dec. 5, 1966 INVENTOR. WESLEY GRANT JOHNSON Un ed. at s, aten Us.or. 32 31 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A soft, pliable, elasticintegrally molded shroud, mounting loops and suction tube for theremoval of salivapolishing compound slurries from the mouth duringpolishing procedures with a dental prophylaxis angle.

This invention generally relates to suction cleaning and moreparticularly to a suction cleaning attachment for dental prophylaxisangles.

An object of the invention is to provide a device which will remove thefluids and solids that collect in the mouth and on the polishing cup ofthe dental prophylaxis angle while it is being operated in the mouth.

Another object of the invention is to provide a suction cleaningattachment for dental prophylaxis angles which is adaptable to mostmakes of dental prophylaxis angles, simple in construction, easy to useand inexpensive to manufacture.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a suction cleaningattachment for dental prophylaxis angles with a soft, pliable, elasticshroud about the polishing cup which only slightly resists temporarydeformation when brought in contact with the tissues of the mouth or thepolishing cup and without injury or operational impairment to the abovementioned items.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a suction cleaningattachment for prophylaxis angles with a suction tube of sufficientlylarge diameter to permit the adequate flow of air necesary to removeslurries from the mouth aerodynamically.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a suction cleaningattachment for dental prophylaxis angles which has a soft, pliable,removable and depressible elastic suction tube and orifice of relativelylarge diameter which would occupy a variable non-rigid position andspace beneath the neck of the prophylaxis angle, thereby restricting theworking depth of the polishing cup only to the extent of the sum of thewall thickness of the top and bottom of the tubing.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a suction cleaningattachment for dental prophylaxis angles with an elastic mounting meanswhich would flexibly aflix the suction tube to the dental prophylaxisangle, thereby increasing the mobility of the suction tube inrelationship to the prophylaxis angle while maintaining the intakeorifice adjacent to the polishing cup as the suction tube flexed andcompressed to accommodate to the varying space conditions around thestructures of the mouth.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a suction cleaningattachment for dental prophylaxis angles that is attached in such amanner to the prophylaxis angle that it is not held in the fingers orhand of the operator 3,512,258 Patented May 19, 1970 but hangs freelyfrom the head and neck of the prophylaxis angle as the operator gripsthe handpiece to which the prophylaxis angle is attached.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a suction cleaningattachment for a dental prophylaxis angle that has an elastic suctiontube which is only attached to the prophylaxis angle by its top edgenear the intake orifice permitting the rest of the tube to partiallycollapse or move from side to side so as to accommodate and not tointerfere with the movements of the polishing cup on and about theteeth.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing bad to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 shows in perspective the attachment constructed in accordancewith the invention, the attachment not being afiixed to the dentalprophylaxis angle.

FIG. 2 shows in side elevation the attachment aflixed to a dentalprophylaxis angle with a polishing cup in place.

In carrying out the invention, referring specifically to the drawing,there is provided an elastic tube 1, with an intake orifice 2, and anexhaust orifice 3. The tube may be mounted to the dental prophylaxisangle in many ways. As shown, but not of necessity, the tube 1, has asan integral part and arising from its top surface near the intakeorifice 2, two short tubular loops 4 and 5. These loops encircle thedental prophylaxis angle head 7, and neck 8, respectively, whereby tube1 is aflixed to the dental prophylaxis angle (7, 8, 6), with the intakeorifice 2 near the polishing cup 9. The body of the dental prophylaxisangle '6 is an enlarged continuation of the neck 8.

In operation of the suction cleaning attachment for dental prophylaxisangle, the elastic loop 5 is stretched to permit the head 7, with cup 9removed, to pass through loop 5 until loop 5 rests on neck 8. Then theelastic loop 4 is stretched up and around the head 7. The elastic tube1, from its attachment position on neck 8 and head 7, is flexibly andseparately displaced away from the neck 8 and body 6 of the prophylaxisangle (7, 8, 6) by gravitational and/or external forces. The tube istherefore free of the dental handpiece (not shown) to which theprophylaxis angle (7, 8, 6) is attached and the tube 1 is free of theoperators normal grasp of the handpiece. The exhaust end 3, which isfree, is connected to a suction pump. Upon completion of these steps,the tubes intake orifice 2, because of its physical relation to theattachment means, will be adjacent to the polishing cup 9. 'With thesuction pump running, air is propelled into the intake orifice 2,carrying with it any solids or fluids building up, on and around thepolishing cup 9.

Having thus completely and fully described the invention, what is nowclaimed as new is as follows:

:1. A suction cleaning attachment for a dental prophylaxis angle havinga head portion with a polishing cup attached thereon, a flexible elasticsuction tube and mounting means, said suction tube having an intakeorifice in the upper portion, said upper portion being adapted to beremovably aflixed to said dental prophylaxis angle, said intake orificebeing positionable adjacent to said polishing cup, with said tubebeneath the neck of the 3 w s 4) dental prophylaxis angle, saidrnounting means being inteangle is facilitated by the elastic nature ofsaid loops and gral 'with said'tube and elastic in nature, and beingcomthe right angle axial relationship of said loops! prised of two shorttubular log-ps extending from the top surface of said intake orifice,the first of said loops is References Cited I axially parallel to thebody of said tubes and is adapted 5 n i UNITED STATES PATENTS a toencircle the neck of said prophylaxis angle, the second 1,682,784 9/1928Gythfeldt of said loops is forward of and at right angle axially to1,093,049 4/1914 Hawley 32 31 said first loop, said second loop isadapted to encircle the 12 02 3 19 4. May ;i XR

head of the dental prophylaxis angle, the afiixation and removal of saidtube to and from said dental'prophylaxis 10 ROBERT PESHOCK, PrimaryExaminer

